Fernando Alonso has supplied a practical view of Aston Martin’s potential forward of the Formulation 1 US Grand Prix, regardless of qualifying thirteenth.
The 2-time World Champion and his Silverstone-based crew have endured a troublesome 2026 season. From reliability issues to poor race-day performances, the season has supplied uncommon glimpses of hope. Nevertheless, Alonso’s beginning grid place of thirteenth, locations the Spaniard in a major spot to capitalise off early race chaos.
The Aston Martin driver was fast to set expectations earlier than Sunday’s race, claiming that the crew’s beginning place might not precisely mirror its underlying tempo.
“Clearly, I believe on advantage we’re P15 or P16,” Alonso advised media, together with Motorsport Week.
“So, you realize, some quick vehicles are coming from behind tomorrow as a risk. So, we have to control that after which the efficiency we see.”
Regardless of his issues, Alonso stays hopeful that Aston Martin can produce a stronger efficiency on race day, with the crew often demonstrating higher tempo on Sundays than throughout qualifying.
“Typically on Sundays we’re higher than Saturdays. That’s true, and hopefully tomorrow is a kind of days,” he added.
Alonso explains Aston Martin’s sudden qualifying tempo
While recognising the tempo deficit his automobile might must the remainder of the midfield, Alonso revealed that the circuit format had offered a constructive shock for Aston Martin.
In the end, this allowed the crew to suit into the midfield battle way more carefully than they anticipated.
When requested about qualifying forward of its principal rivals, Cadillac and Williams, Alsono pointed towards the circuit traits.
“I believe the format, yeah, has been a form of constructive shock,” Alonso mentioned.
“You recognize, the extent of competitiveness right here in comparison with them, you realize, and there are two lengthy straights however aside from that I believe the remainder of it’s extra energy restricted and, yeah, we appear to battle a little bit bit much less.”
Nevertheless, the Spaniard admitted that the consequence didn’t come with out its personal challenges. Alonso defined that the general steadiness was nice together with his AMR-26. However the continued inconsistencies with the PU impacted his confidence all through the session.
“The automobile was good. We solely had some points on the ability unit, delivering torque into the corners a little bit bit inconsistent,” he continued.
“Some laps we had, you realize, push. Typically we had like a handbraking feeling in the course of the corners. So, that was the factor that removes a little bit little bit of confidence within the driver.”
Alonso’s concession that the AMR26 is slower than its grid place suggests the 2 time world champion expects a troublesome race in Austin.
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